8th Grade Speech - "Laughter Blocks Fear"

“Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on.” - Bob Newhart. I believe that smiling and laughing can increase the happiness of a person and others around them. Causing others to laugh and have a good time has been a love of mine since a young age. I feel like laughter can make a person feel better even in the worst times. I always try to make the ones around me smile or laugh  because I feel that it can make a person's day brighter. I also feel that having a good laugh can make a person temporarily forget about a problem, worry, or fear they may have at that moment.

I remember when I was two years old and I went trick-or-treating with my dad. I was wearing a devil costume and it was my first time ever going trick-or-treating. I remember being scared of all the creepy decorations and scary costumes. My dad, being the funny man he is, tried to sooth me by making me laugh. I remember him making funny faces, telling silly jokes, and talking in weird voices. After he successfully made me laugh, I soon forgot about the fear I was feeling and began to enjoy my first Halloween.

Remembering this moment makes me realize that you can ease a person's worries by simply causing them to have a good laugh. 

Final Reflection Blog

           I learned a lot this year. One important thing I learned this year was what indepepent and dependent variables, phrases, and fragments are, along with what the differences is between all of them. This is important because I use these in my writing, and now I know how to properly use them in sentences. Another thing I learned was the importance of commas and how to use them correctly. This will greatly help my writing in the future. I also learned by improving my skills on writing introductions and conclusions in an essay or paper.

         I think I will always remember the butterfly project. I say this because this was one of the few big projects that I have done in middle school, and it took a lot of time and effort to complete it. I will also remember it because of all the amazing butterflies other people created and shared. I feel this project brought out the artistic ability of everyone and I enjoyed looking at everyone's creations. As well as creating my own.

          One of the nicest things someone did for me this year was help me when I was having difficulties. I remember once I was at a complete blank and I couldn't think of what to do for the work I was doing. My table partner helped me by giving me some ideas to help me push through the mind blank I was having. In the end, this greatly helped me as I was then able to continue and complete my work. 

          Something I, and other classmates, taught our teacher is a new way of looking at Tuesday's with Morrie, along with the other books we read this school year. I remember, during one of the Socratic Seminars, we were talking about our thoughts on Tuesdays with Morrie, and someone said something that made our teacher say how she never thought of the book that way. I know that while reading Tuesday's with Morrie, we showed our teacher different ways of thinking about the book and its meaning.

          I feel that I have made the biggest improvements in my writing skills. I have learned different tips on becoming a better writer, and I have used them in my writing and it shows how much I've learned. I've also improved in my writing by learning new vocabulary words, which has helped me because I use new words while I'm writing, so I don't use the same words over and over again. Instead I can now think of synonyms to words such as "good", "bad", or "sad", and it makes my writing sound more sophisticated, and it makes it more interesting for other people to read.

          For me, the most challenging part of this year was either the butterfly project, or the Morrie aphorism project. The butterfly project was difficult because it took lots of thinking to come up with a design. It also took time and effort to create the butterfly and make it represent the poem it was based off of. The aphorism project was difficult because it also took a lot of thinking to come up with a visual to represent the aphorism it was based on. 

          The piece of writing that I'm most proud of is my Narrative essay. Out of all the things I have done this year, that has been my favorite assignment. I have never enjoyed an assignment so much. Writing it was a lot of fun, which is part of the reason that this is what I'm most proud of. Along with it being an enjoyable experience, I enjoy reading it and thinking back to the moment the essay is referring to. Going into the essay I thought it was going to be very difficult to write, but while writing it, I noticed that it was fairly easy. Looking at the finished essay, then and now, I am very proud of what the end result looks like. The essay might not be the best writing I've ever done, but it's certainly the one I'm most proud of. 

          My biggest accomplishment, and the best piece of writing that I have done all year, was the argumentative essay. A lot of time and work went into writing that essay and I am extremely proud of what came out of it. I believe that all the research and facts that I put into my argumentative essay came together very well, and made the whole thing flow and really show the reader how strongly I feel about the topic. 

          Of the books I've read this year my favorite would have to be To Kill a Mockingbird. To Kill a Mockingbird is filled with so many lessons and important values. I believe that it could show a person a different way of thinking. A lot could be learned from that book. This book always kept me interested, and it was a book that I actually enjoyed reading. 

          To the students next year, I would mainly give them the advice to always do their work. I would tell them that If you fail to do what needs to be accomplished, there will be consequences, and there is no getting around those consequences. I would tell the students that as long as you do what needs to be done, all will be fine with Mrs. Larson. I would also tell the future students that there will be some times where it may seem too difficult to continue, but all they have to do is push through and do what needs to be done, because it won't always be like that. Most of all, I would tell the future students "good luck!"

Morrie's aphorisms - Final Project

Aphorism: "Life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you are bound to do something else." (pg 40)

          When this aphorism was stated, Mitch says he is complaining about what is expected from him versus what he wants for himself. Morrie then tells Mitch about the tension of opposites, and how life is a series of pulls back and forth. An example that Morrie gives is, "You take certain things for granted, even though you know you should never take anything for granted." This aphorism is saying that there will be times where you know you should so one thing, but something else happens out of your control.

          I can relate this aphorism to almost everyone, because we all take things for granted even though we shouldn't. My cousin knows she shouldn't take things for granted, yet she takes for granted that she has two extremely loving parents, and two amazing grandparents who are always there to help her. My grandmother knows she shouldn't take things for granted, yet she takes for granted that she has a beautiful home with air-conditioning. Even I know not to take things for granted, and yet I take almost everything for granted. As Morrie says, "You take certain things for granted, even though you know you should never take anything for granted."

          I agree with this aphorism. I believe that it is true that life is a series of backs and forth. How life has a way making you feel one way, even though you know you shouldn't feel that way. I know this aphorism to be true because I have witnessed it in myself and in others around me. When Morrie is telling Mitch this aphorism, he give the example, "Something hurts you, yet you know it shouldn't." I know many people who would agree with this example, and agree with this aphorism.

Graphic for aphorism:

I think this graphic captures Morrie's aphorism because it shows a person who is reaching out for the thing they want to do, but they are bound to do something else, and therefore can't get to the thing they want to do.

My aphorism: Life is to short to wait to long. 

In other words my aphorisms is saying: if you want to do something, then do it. Don't wait a lifetime to accomplish a goal you've had for a really long time, or a goal you really want to accomplish. Don't make excuses for why you weren't able to do what you wanted to do. Instead do what you can do as soon as you can do it, and don't wait too long or else it will be to late and you will keep regretting what you didn't do. 

Tuesday's With Morrie Socratic Seminar Reflection - 5/4/16

          The seminars made me think differently about life and Morrie. The seminars helped me realize how Morrie is completely selfless, and how his views on things are different than most. For example, his religious views help him connect with people because he doesn't have just one belief. Morrie's views on death also changed the way I think about life and death. Morrie also helped me see the different way I could live my life. He showed me the different ways I should live my life, because I never know when the end will come. 

          I noticed that for each seminar, I didn't talk much and my goal was always to get into the conversation more. This was my goal because I would say hardly anything during the seminar, and if I did it was short and quiet. Although this was an important goal, I didn't work very hard to accomplish it. The reason might be because I didn't try hard enough to speak out loud and get into the discussion, even though I had thoughts and notes I wanted to share. 

          I noticed that for each seminar, the class focused on Morrie and how unusual he is. Morrie thinks and acts differently than most, and this made him an interesting topic to discuss. Morrie's views on religion, life, people, and death helped each seminar by giving the class something to really think about. The class helped each seminar by giving quotes, specific moments in the book, and thoughts about the subject. This helped the seminar stay on track, and helped guide the discussion.

Tuesdays with Morrie - 4/28/16

Writing Prompt: Which Tuesday had the most impact on you?

          Out of all the Tuesdays, I would say that the Tuesday about death as inspired me most. I say this because that Tuesday really made me think about death and what it means. The words of Morrie have made me rethink my life. It reminded me that all people will die, and nobody knows when.

          One of my favorite aphorisms is in the Tuesday about death. The aphorism is "…once you learn how to die, you learn how to live." (pg 82). This makes me think of the phrase: live your life to the fullest. Morrie's aphorism can have different effects on different people, but for me it makes me think of what I'm doing with my life, and what I would regret if I were to die at this moment. 

          I like this Tuesday because it makes a person have a different view on death. Something that made me think was when Morrie was talking about the bird on his shoulder. On page 81 it says, "'Do what the Buddhists do. Every day, have a little bird on your shoulder that asks, 'Is today the day? Am I ready? Am I doing all I need to do? Am I being the person I want to be?'…'Is today the day I die'" Reading this made me think about all those questions and how I would definitely not be ready to die today. This also helps me think about my life and how it could change so that when the bird asks me those questions, I will be satisfied with my answers.

Bucket List blog - 4/20/16

Writing Prompt: What are your initial reactions to what you have read in Tuesday's with Morrie thus far? Write a bucket list of things you want to do/accomplish in your life.

          The first thing I thought while I was reading this book was that it was kind of depressing, but at the same time not. Morrie had ALS and he is at a constant struggle with life, yet he is determined to live his life instead of sitting around and waiting to die. In a way, to me, that is inspirational.

          Another one of my initial thoughts while reading this book was that I couldn't believe the close relationship Mitch has with Morrie, because Morrie was his teacher. Their relationship was so close that Morrie shed actual tears when Mitch left. It also suprised me that Mitch just went along with life without ever talking to Morrie. I wouldn't think that based on the bond they had, and how much Mitch looked up to Morrie. I was very glad when they finally reunited after sixteen long years.

         Thinking about Morrie makes me think of the things I would like to accomplish before I die. When I think about it there are so many things I could think of to write on my Bucket List. So here it is:

Bucket List

Go skydiving

Get married

Graduation Highschool

Graduate college

Meet cast of Walking Dead

Meet all member of One Direction

Meet all members of 5 Seconds of Summer

Become friends with Chadler Riggs

Get a good paying job

Have at least 2 kids

Become famous

Travel Europe and Austrailia

Learn a new language

Go to prom

Become an actress

Get a Ragdoll Cat

Get a Golden Retriever

Live in a house

Get a drivers license

Dye my hair blue

3rd Quarter Reflection - 4/8/16

          I would say that I have made my biggest improvement in my writing. I feel that all the AOW's, Blogs, and essays have helped my me be a better writer. These things have helped me practice my writing skill and have also made it better. Although my writing hasn't changed much, I would say that it is the most important improvement I have made this quarter.

          An accomplishment that I have made this quarter that I am proud of is completing the butterfly project. I am proud of that because I felt that was a very important project, and, in my opinion, I did really well on it. I am proud of the fact that I took a poem and put in a different form, beautifly put together and filled with all kinds of symbolism.

          A challenge that I've faced in 3rd quarter was the Holocaust unit. I wouldn't say that it was hard, but all of the work that had to put into did require lots of effort and focus. We had to read books, write blogs, read articles, write essays, and do projects. All of the work that had to be put into this unit is why I would say that this was a challenge I faced this quarter.

          Learning about different writing techniques, such as introduction, conclusion, and in text citation, have greatly benifited me. Learning about how to write a good introduction and conclusion has helped my writing greatly because those are very important things to have when writing a big piece. Learning about in text citation has helped me because now if I were to do a Reasearch paper, or an essay including evidence from an online source, I will know how properly incorporate the citation into my writing.

The 5th Wave - 3/10/16

Writing Prompt: If the author were here, what would you say and ask him?

If the author, Rick Yancey, were here, I would first ask him where he got the idea for this book. This is my main question because this book is about the alien apocalypse and I want to know how he came up with the story, plot, setting, etc. There are many things that go into creating a story, and I'm wondering where he got the ideas for all the things that go into making a book. Like the character names, character personalities, settings, and different plots and twists.

          I would also ask him what experiences influenced him to write this book. Sometimes experiences are son had goes into their writing, and I'm wondering if that is the case for Yancey. Maybe he was interested in aliens as a kid, and maybe still is. He could possibly have a fascination for different kinds of apocalypses, and he wanted to write about one. I want to know what has happened in his life to make him want to write this book.

          Another thing I would like to know from Rick Yancey is: why did he decide to write this book? I know there are probably many reasons Yancey decided to write and publish his book. Maybe is has always been interested in writing books. Maybe Yancey came up with an idea about a story one day and decided it would be good if it was turned into a book. I would like to know what Yancey was thinking when he thought of making and publishing this book.

The 5th Wave - 3/2/16

Writing Prompt: What special way does the author write? Does that make reading it better or worse? Explain.

I quite like the way the author, Rick Yancey, writes. He starts off with the main character, Cassie, in the present, and he writes as if she is telling a story. As Cassie goes through life, on a quest in this alien apocalyptic world, she starts off by saying something that happened in the past, as if she is starting to tell you a story. Then it goes to a flashback. An example would be when the book says, "Mom died on a Tuesday. Dad buried her in the backyard, in the rose bed." Then Cassie talks about how her dad and her brother acted leading up to the day her mom died, then she talks about the day a little bit. Then after that it goes to a flashback of that day, the moment her mom died.

Another example of this flashback, story telling writing style, is when Cassie starts to talk about her brother. The author writes it as if she is talking to someone, but in reality Cassie is all alone: "I guess I have to talk about Sammy now." The author I writes this and it makes it look like Cassie is writing in book or telling someone this. Once Cassie says this she starts to talk about her situation and how Sammy is the only thing that keeps her going. She then shifts over and starts talking about how they went to a camp. After she talks about it, there is a flashback of a time that they were all in the camp. 

I like that the author writes like this because it shows the differences between the characters in the past and present. I also like it because it shows emotion in the main character as she talks about the things that happened in the past, and how they have effected her life in the present. I also like how the author makes it sound as if Cassie is writing this story for people to read, and how he includes flashbacks after the main character has already told the reader about the time the flashback is going to. 

Another thing the author does is that in some flashbacks, he writes as if Cassie is saying it, and she is talking about it in past tense. An example would be when Cassie is telling a story with dialogue, and she says "I had said to her". This shows that Cassie is saying this as if it was in the last, and she is telling someone what was said.

I think this makes the reading experience better because I find this writing style very interesting. I like how I get to see past and present, and I like how the author writes as if the main character is telling someone this as if it was a story, or as if the main character was writing this down like it was a book or journal. To me, this writing style makes the reading experience more enjoyable.

Life is Beautiful - Night Connections

Writing Prompt:

 1) Based on the Holocaust literature and poetry we have read, what connections can be made between Life is Beautiful and our reading?

2) How is life shown as beautiful throughout the film. Pull out at least two examples from different parts of the film and explain your rationale.

The movie Life is Beautiful and the book Night have some similarities and many differences. One major difference is the fact that the two have a completely different tone and mood attached to it. Night focuses completely on the negative side of the Holocaust and being in a concentration camp. Night talked about how people were tortured, killed, starved, and beat on. Life is Beautiful focuses much less on the negative, and more about love, and even includes many moments of humor. In the beginning the film showed a man named Guido trying to get the women he had fallen in love with. Then they got married and had a child named Joshua. Even once Guido and Joshua were in a concentration camp it didn't focus on the negative things. Instead it focused on Guido trying to protect his son and keep him from finding out what the camp was really like.

Another difference is the way the concentration camp was looked at through the eyes of the child. The author and narrator of Night had arrived in a concentration camp when he was 15, and he lived through the whole experience knowing the kind of place he was in. He knew that these concentration camps were a place of pain and torture. Thanks to his father, Guido, Joshua had no idea the kind of terrors the concentration camp had in store. Guido protected Joshua by telling him that this was all a big game. Guido made up rules for the game that would keep Joshua safe and protected. Unlike Elie, Joshua went through his whole concentration camp experience without knowing what was actually happening around him.

A similarity between the film and the reading is that there is a father and a son. In both movie and book, there is a boy with his father, surviving in a concentration camp. Both boys also  get to stay with their father until near the end, before they were liberated. Although in different ways, in both situations the father dies in the concentration camp.

There are different ways life is shown as beautiful thought the film. One example would be when  the main character, Guido, finds love. Love is something very beautiful and magical, and it was a very wonderful thing that Guido was able to find someone to love, and someone to love him back. Along with that, it was a beautiful thing that they were able to get married and have a son together.

Life is shown as beautiful in the concentration camp during the different times Guido tried to show his wife, Dora, that him and his son were still alive, and that he loved her. One time Guido even risked his life by sneaking into a room and talking to Dora over the speakers that were all over camp. Guido also expressed is love by playing a song very loudly out a window, in hopes Dora would hear it. The song is from they both went to the opera.

Night - 2/24/16

Writing Prompt: How do Elie's experiences during the Holocaust change him as a person?

An effect the Holocaust had on Elie was the way he sees God. In the beginning, Elie has strong religious beliefs. Then in the middle you see Elie's transition as he starts to rebel against God and decide that God no longer exists. Then in the end Elie kind of revisits his previous beliefs as he prays to God once more.

In the beginning Elie has strong religious beliefs. On page one of the book it says, "I believed profoundly. During the day I studied the Talmud, and at night I ran to the synagogue to weep over the destruction of the Temple." Then Elie finds a man named Moshe the Beadle who acts as a religious mentor for Elie. On page three the book states, "And Moshe the Beadle, the poor barefoot of Sighet, talked to me for long hours of the revelations and mysteries of the cabbala. It was with him that my initiation began. We would read together, ten times over, the same page of the Zohar. Not to learn by heart, but to extract the divine essence from it." This shows that Elie would work with Moshe for long periods of time as they would practice, and try to understand their religion together.

As the book goes on, Elie begins to question God. On page 31 when Elie and his father are in line for the crematory, Elie writes, "For the first time, I felt revolt rise up in me. Why should I bless his name? The Eternal, Lord of the Universe, the All-Powerful and Terrible, was silent. What had I to thank him for?" This is when Elie first starts to question God. Then, on page 62, Elie sees God as being dead in his eyes: "'Where is God now?’ And I heard a voice within me answer him: ‘Where is He? Here He is—He is hanging here on the gallows…’" Elie continues to question the real justice that God has on page 63 when he writes, "'What are You, my God,’ I thought angrily, ‘ compared to this afflicted crowd, proclaiming to You their faith, their anger, their revolt? What does Your greatness mean, Lord of the universe, in the face of all this weakness, this decomposition, and this decay? Why do You still trouble their sick minds, their crippled bodies?'" Here Elie is thinking about how God has not helped the Jews because he is allowing them to die and get tortured. Elie comes to this full realization and conclusion on page 64: "Why, but why should I blessed Him? In every fiber I rebelled. Because He had had thousands of children burned in His pits? Because he kept six crematories working night and day, on Sundays and feast days? Because in His great might he had created Auschwitz, Birkenau, Buna, and so many factories of death?…Who chose us among the races to be tortured day and night, to see our fathers, our mothers, our brothers, in the crematory?" God has done nothing but allow all these innocent people to die, and for that, Elie has stopped believing in him.

Although Elie no longer believes in God, there is a moment where he allows himself to believe in Him just one more time. After running non stop for several miles, the prisoners are finally allowed to rest. A Rabbi goes around asking if anyone has seen his son, because he lost him in the run. When the Rabbi says that he was falling behind and running towards the end of the line, while he saw his son continue running towards the front, Elie concludes that the Rabbi's son purposely ran away from his father because he felt that he was a burden to him, and he would have a better chance at survival without his father weighing him down. In this moment, Elie prays, something that he thought he would never do: "And, in spite of myself, a prayer rose in my heart, to that God in whom I no longer believed. My God, Lord of the Universe, give me strength never to do what Rabbi Eliahou’s son has done." Elie wanted so badly not to become like the Rabbi's son, and leave his father, that he prayed to God that it would not happen.

The Holocaust had a big effect on Elie. It completely changed his religious views. He went from praying, practicing, and studying his religion constantly, to completely abandoning his views on religion and God. This shows how much of an impact the Holocaust had on people, and how it can completely change a person and the way they live their life. The Holocaust had strong effects on everyone who was involved. 

NIght - 2/18/16

Writing Prompt: Describe a character you would like to meet. List four questions you would ask them.

          If I could, I would like to meet the author of the book, Elie Wiesel. I think it would be an amazing experience to meet him and ask him a bunch of questions about his experiences and how it has effected his life. I think that I would be able to learn more about the Holocaust and different concentration camps. As well as be able to get an inside story of what it was actually like to be in a concentration camp. I would also like to know all of the things that were going through his mind as life in the concentration camps progressed.

         One thing I would ask Elie Wiesel is: What was your first thought when you entered your first concentration camp? I would like to know what his initial thought was about everything, before he found out what was really happening. Did he think it was like another ghetto? Did he think he was going somewhere safe? I want to know what he was thinking as he arrived in his first concentration camp.

          Another thing I would ask Elie Wiesel is: What were your thoughts on Madame Schächter? I know that other people thought Madame Schächter was crazy, and they just wanted her to stop talking, but I want to know what Elie's thoughts about her were. Did he ever think that she might somehow be trying to tell everyone of something important? Did he think she was making any sense at all. I would want to know what his initial thoughts about Madame Schächter was, when she first starting talking about the fire, and what his thoughts were as she continued to talk about the fire over and over again. I would also like to know what his thoughts about Madame Schächter was when he found out that they were burning Jews at the concentration camps.

          I would also ask Elie: What were some of your biggest fears while being in a concentration camp? There was a lot to be scared of in a concentration camp, and I just want to know what Elie was most scared of, what he thought of most. Was it doing his job and staying out of the way so he doesn't get in trouble? Was it to not make himself standout, so he wouldn't draw attention to himself, so he wouldn't get noticed? Was it fighting to get enough food and stay alive? I just want to know some of Elie's biggest fears while he was trapped in those concentration camps.

          I would also like to ask Elie: How did you adjust to the living environments of being in a concentration camp? Elie had to change the way he lived in order to stay alive. He ate less than he used to. He even learned to tolerate eating soup, because it was the only thing he could eat. He also had to live with being deprived of rights and nutrition and living with the fear that he might soon die. I would just like to know how he changed his ways, and adjusted his life in order to live and survive in a concentration camp.

Holocaust AOW Impressions - 2/12/16

EQ: Take a moment to reflect upon your impressions of what you have learned from the array of articles.

          One thing I found that was common was that survivors from the Holocaust still have hatred. In one article it talked about how Holocaust survivors want to sue Hungary, and how they have been waiting for 71 years to sue. In another article it talked about how a over 90 years old man is in an active case for being a concentration camp body guard. Though this man may be to old to deport to Germany. 

          I also noticed in some articles that the Holocaust gave people another way of thinking about life. In my article, a man named Zigi Shipper explains that he has had a wonderful life, even though he was in several labor camps, went through a major near death experience, and lost his grandmother in Auschwitz. This has made Zigi think and be very grateful that he is even alive. It has taught him to be greatful for such a privilege. Another article talked about how survivors say the Holocaust gave them a will to live. The Holocaust has effected many and showed them a different way of thinking about things.

Butterfly Project

Commented on Jared, James, Diana, and Justin R

Berlin Memorial Activity - 2/3/16

Writing Prompt: Based on our Berlin Memorial Activity today in class, take a moment to reflect on what you learned about the Jewish decrees established during the Hitler years.

I learned a lot from the Berlin Memorial Activity I did in class. I learned some of the different laws and restrictions that were out on Jews. I also found that there were some years that had a lot of new restrictions and some years had very little. One that I learned that was very shocking was that if you were a Jew in 1942, you were not allowed to have pets. Another shocking thing I learned was that at a certain point, Jews only had one hour to shop, between 4 and 5 p.m. This is shocking because it seems like if all Jews are only allowed to shop at those times, there will be many Jews coming to shop all at once, which could result in a type of chaos.

I think the lampposts in the monument was built to show people how it was like for the Jews with all of the laws. The lampposts have pictures of certain things representing a law. An example would be a sign that says "Juden werden aus Gesangsvereinen ausgeschlossen" which means "Jews are excluded from choirs". This was one of the laws against the Jews. This also shows people one of the laws they were forced to follow.

I notice that in certain years, there were lots if laws made, and others not so many. In 1938 there were lots of laws. The meaning behind this might have to do with the fact that Hitler invaded Poland in 1939. Along with the fact that there was a lot of laws in 1942 and 1933. 1933 was also the year Hitler came into power.

I think I would have the most trouble following the law that forces me to give up my items. The reasons I think this is because I wouldn't want to be forced to give up my possessions, especially if I had something I really valued. I would also have a hard time with this because I wouldn't want to give away my things because maybe they help me when j get sad or scared because of what's happening.

2nd Quarter Reflection

I think that my biggest improvement has been in my writing. I feel that I have been doing better with the recent essays and write-ups I have done lately. I feel the To Kill a Mockingbird essay that I did was well written. I was proud of myself for accomplishing that. Along with that, I believe that my other write-ups this quarter have been really good as well.

An accomplishment from this quarter that I am proud of is what I've done in the To Kill a Mockingbird unit, especially the note-taking. Not saying that the To Kill a Mockingbird unit was hard,  but all the things that had to be accomplished wasn't exactly easy either. I am especially proud of all the note-taking I did while watching the movie. I like how I was able to fill up the chart with so many similarities and differences while I was watching the movie.

There hasn't been anything to hard about this quarter, but if I had to chose one I would say the most challenging part of 2nd quarter was when we had to read To Kill a Mockingbird. I'm not a big reader and I don't like to read, so having to read all of that wasn't fun. Along with that, I'm a slow reader so it took a while to read, especially because I had to keep stopping to make annotations and answering questions with quotes and interpretations. Besides that, there hasn't been anything that challenging that I've had to do in 2nd quarter.    

I think a strategy that has benefited me is the TIQA. Although I already used TIQA in my writing, learning what it was, and pf acting it has helped my writing skills. I think practicing this strategy has made it better and burned it even more in my mind so now I will be able to use that format easily without even think about it.

Although we haven't done many blogs this quarter, I would say that they have been pretty much the same since August. My blogs haven't necessarily been getting better and better, but the haven't been getting worse either. I feel they have been doing good, with pretty much the same quality as they were in August. 

Overall I am proud of how this quarter, and so far this year, has gone. I believe that I have been improving in lots of different skills. I also feel my work quality has been getting better over the quarter. I will try to  continue improving getting better throughout the rest if the school year, so that by third and fourth quarter, I will be in even better shake then I am now.

TKAM Juxtapose Blog

Writing Prompt: What do you think is the most important difference between the written and filmed version?

There are lots of differences between the To Kill a Mockingbird book and movie, but some are more important than others. A minor differences would be the fact that Dill stayed with Aunt Stephanie, instead of Aunt Rachel. This is minor because the aunt really has no importance on the book so changing the name of the aunt doesn't have a big effect in the movie. A major difference would be the fact that Jem found all of the items in the tree, instead of Scout finding the items. This is major because in the book, Scout was the first one to something in the tree, and she was the one to tell Jem what was going on. Also, it was a way for Boo to interact with the children, and in Jem finding all of the items, he's not interacting with them because Jem keeps the items to himself.

I think one of the most important differences between the film and the book is the lack of times the children had an interaction with Boo. The times the kids tried to make Boo come out in the movie were close together and the movie didn't include all of the different interactions with Boo. One thing that was missing in the movie was the laugh Scout heard when she bumped into the Radley's house while in the tire. I feel this was an important moment because it's when Scout was sure there was someone is the Radley's house watching the children. It was also the moment the readers got the idea that Boo was in that house, and he was interested in the kids.

          Another incident with Boo that never happened was when he put the blanket over Scout's shoulder's because it was cold and they were outside watching as their neighbors house burned down. I feel this was important because it was yet another time Boo connected with Scout, and showed that he was actually there, watching and looking out for the kids.

          One other important difference is that the movie didn't include Aunt Alexandra at all. This is important because it means that Scout, Jem, and Atticus never went to her house, and Francis never insulted Scout and calling her dad a "nigger lover". This also meant that Aunt Alexandra never came to stay with the Finch's and the whole scene with Alexandra's coffee group never happened.